Match-box.



J. A. EDES.

MATCH BOX.

APILIOATION FILED JULY 22,1908.

Patented N0v.24, 1908.

UNITED STATES if LATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ALVIN EDES, OF NEWPORT, RHOIDE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCAROLYN l3. EDES, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

MATCH-B OX.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALviN Eons, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newport, county of Newport, State of Rhode Island, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to match boxes adapted to project the matchestherefrom one at a time and admit of the individual matches beingignited by a special form of striking mechanism as they are forcedpartially from the box, and the object of the invention is to provide asimple and etlicient apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing purposesand that will perform its operations with precision and accuracy and isnot liable to the common forms of derangement peculiar to theconstructions of boxes heretofore devised for this general operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation amatch box embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the box. Fig. 1 is asection on line 14 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are an end elevation and alongitudinal section through the combined detent and striking device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the body of the box whichcomprises an upper magazine section for holding a number of matches,which is provided at its top with a slide cover Toward the bottom of themagazine the sides of the box converge and terminate in a generallycylindrical bottom chamber 3 provided in its lower side with alongitudinal slot 13. Extending longitudinally of the magazine and justabove the bottom thereof is an inclined partition 5 which serves toadmit matches one at a time in proper position to be ejected through anopening 18 in the end wall of the box.

Slidably mounted in the bottom chamber 3 is a plunger 6, having a fingerpiece 10 projecting through the slot 13, and a shoulder 11 on its upperside which is adapted to engage the butt end of a match and force thelatter forward in the box. In the front end of the cylindrical chamber18, there is secured a block 8 provided with a Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed. July 22, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Serial No. 444,713.

groove on its upper surface adapted to receive and guide the forward endof a match. Secured to an eye 9 on the rear end of block 8 is aretractile spring 7, which is attached at its other end to the forwardend of plunger 6 and serves to pull the plunger forward with a sharpquick motion when said plunger has been retracted by the finger of theoperator and then released.

Mounted on the front wall of the box is a cylindrical chamber 14. inwhich is slidably mounted the combined striker and dctent 20, whichlatter is provided with a finger piece 21 projecting through a slot 15in the front wall of said chamber 14. In the chamber 1-1, and betweenthe upper wall thereof and the upper face of the detent 20. is a helicalspring 19, which ntnaually holds said dctent in its lower position tooverlie the opening 18, and which returns the said dctent to suchposition after the same has been retracted and released by the finger ofthe operator. The lower end of the detent 20 is cut away and above thecut away portion is provided with a slot 22, in which is forced a springfinger 24:, having a striking point 25 turned at right angles to thebody of the spring and projecting toward the interior of the box, saidpoint 25 normally standing away from the body of detent 20 by reason ofthe set of the spring finger 24-. T he lower end of detent 20 isslightly grooved or rounded to adapt the same to engage and assist inholding the match after the same has been partially projected from thebox.

In order to prevent the match being projected entirely from the boxuntil it is desired to discard the same, there is provided a resilientor yieldable holding member 17 which may conveniently take the formillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and at, and consists of an angularly disposedspring rod attached at its inner end to the bottom of the box and freeto move at its outer up-turned end, the extreme point of the latternormally projecting a slight distance over the opening 18 and having achamfered edge to permit the match to slide over the same and force thespring downward during the initial movement of the match in its passagethrough the opening 18, said chamfered edge however developingsufficient friction with the match to retard the movement of the latterand finally arrest the same and clamp it against a projecting lip 16above the opening 18.

In operating the apparatus as herein de scribed, the magazine issupplied with the desired number of matches. When it is desired to use amatch from the box, the box is tilted forward slightly to cause thematches to move toward the front wall. Finger piece 10 is then forcedbackward by the finger of the operator, which retracts plunger (5 untilthe shoulder 11 thereof passes behind the butt end of the lowermostmatch, and the latter occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, with itsforward end resting on the guide block 8 and its heel engaged byshoulder 11. In this position, the head of the match engages the cutaway portion of detent 2O ust above the striking point on the springmember 2%. Detent 20 is then retracted against the pressure of spring 19by engaging finger piece 21, whereupon striking finger 25 is drawnsmartly across the matchhead and ignites the latter. Immediatelythereafter the lower end of detent 25 uncovers opening 18 and theforward partof the match is projected through the opening 18 and thehead thereof immediately bursts into flame. In passing through theopening, the forward end of the match depresses the yieldable holdingmember 17, which latter however imposes sufficient friction to retardand finally arrest the movement of the match and ult -t ely clamps thelatter in partially projected position against shoulder 16. At the sametime and after detent 20 has been released, the latter is forceddownward by spring 19 and assists in holding the match in its projectedrelation. Should it be found desirable to force the match still furtherout of the box, the plunger 6 may be snapped back again, which has theeffect of driving the match further fOl'lVi 'd.

It will be noted that this const action prevents clogging of the matchesat the delivery end and insures that the matches will be projected fromthe the box one at time and that the ignition of the head of each matchis certain and positive, owing to the fact that the point 25 on the endof the spring member 2%, when the detent 20 is retracted, is heldagainst the match head under heavy spring pressure and literally tearsits Way through the head of the match. Moreover this point or strikingmember always produces the same frictional effect on the match heads andis not liable to become clogged or obstructed, as is the case where asimple roughened surface is employed on the striker.

hat I claim is 1. In a match box, the combination of the magazine forholding a number of matches, a spring-actuated plunger at the bottom ofthe magazine for projecting a single match through an opening in theside of the box, a retractable spring held detent normally overlyingsaid orifice, and a spring finger on said detent to engage and ignitethe match head when said detent is retracted.

2. In a match box, the combination of the magazine for holding a numberof matches, a spring-actuated plunger at the bottom of the magazine forprojecting a single match hrough an opening in the side of the box, aretractable spring held detent normally overlying said orifice, a springfinger on said detent to engage and ignite the match head when saiddetent is retracted, and a yieldable holding member extending in frontof said opening and serving to restrain the match when the latter hasbeen partially ejected.

In a match box, the combination of the magazine having converging sidesand a generally cylindrical lower chamber, a plunger in said chamber, astationary guide block in said chamber, a spring connecting said plungerand guide block, a cylindrical chamber on the front of said box havingan opening near the bottom thereof through which a single match may beprojected by the plunger, a retractable detent in said chamber normallycovering said opening, a spring engaging said detent to return the sameto normal position, and a spring finger on said detent to engage andignite the match head when said detent is retracted.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ALVIN EDES.

v itnesses JEREMIAH P. MAHONEY, EDWARD A. EDES.

